(WARNING: The following contains some fairly substantial plot SPOILERS for Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange. If you've not yet seen it, then feel free to go and watch it now. Don't worry, we'll wait.)

Now, for all that Marvel Studios' giddily surreal Doctor Strange is currently en route to amassing a rather large pile of box office dollars, it hasn't exactly had it all its own way. While reviews for the film were largely glowing, some fans have taken issue with elements of the film's casting, its narrative choices and — perhaps most of all — its villain.

This New 'Doctor Strange' Concept Art Teases A Very Different Dormammu

Which, with the Dread Dormammu — who pops up in the film's closing stages as the surprise Big Bad — having been the source of much of that aforementioned fan ire, is intriguing to say the least. Y'see, where the finished film featured a far less flame-faced version of the villain than that which #Marvel comic book fans have come to know and love, it seems we almost saw a far more traditional approach on the big screen. Indeed, as the recently released concept art below suggests, Dormammu was almost a far more comic book-like figure indeed:

'Doctor Strange' [Marvel Studios]

In fact, it seems that several of the early drafts for the villain were not only distinctly flame-like...

'Doctor Strange' [Marvel Studios]

...but also a little less surreal in nature than the film's final version — and little more portentous in scope:

'Doctor Strange' [Marvel Studios]

Of course, since we also very nearly saw a far more out-there take on the villain...

'Doctor Strange' [Marvel Studios]

...it's possible that the finished product was actually less a betrayal of the source material, and more a compromise between two equally intriguing extremes:

'Doctor Strange' [Marvel Studios]

Either way, though, the finished film wound up being pretty darned fantastic, so it's perhaps worth cutting the filmmakers a little slack when it comes to Dormammu, and his somewhat lackluster on-screen appearance.

Y'know, that, or we can keep complaining about it until Marvel changes his look for the sequel. Either way...

What do you think, though? Would you rather have seen one of the above Dormammu's in Doctor Strange? Let us know below!